Safety device for boats



June 9, 1931. c so SAFETY DEVICE FOR BOATS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6, 1929 ATTORN EY June 9, 1931. J. CHISON 1,309,675

' SAFETY DEVICE FOR BOATS I Fil ed Jilly 6, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 & N

I ATTORNEY June 9, 1931.

J. CHISON SAFETY DEVICE FOR BOATS Filed July 6, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY June 9, 1931. J. CHISON SAFETY DEVICE FORBOATS' Filed July e, 1929 4 John 07; z'a'argmmm BY wayzdmb Patented June 9, v 1931 PATENT; OFFICE JOHN CHISON, or ELM GROVE, wnsr VIRGINIA SAFETY nEvIcE non soars Application filed J'uly 6,

This invention relates to boats and has for an object the provision of normally inactive means which may be secured tothe hull of a boat and moved to an active position in the event of an emergency to stabilize the boat and prevent sinking.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means of the above character which may be attached to boats of various types, and which, when not in use, will not interfere with the progress orspeed of the boat and maybe easily and quickly brought into position for use should occasion arise;

ll ith the above and other objectsin view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details ofconstructiomto be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings v Figure l is a top plan view of the hull of a boat with the invention applied,the wings being shown in extended position.

Figure 2 is a bottom View of the same. Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view with the canvass or flexible rib connecting members removed, the ribs being shownextended in full lines and folded by dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectionalview taken horizontally through the hull and illustrating the connection of the combined suspending and operating arms with the carrlage. Figure 5 is a section on the Figure 4.

I Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view line 55 of showing a portion of the hull of the boat with some of the ribs and the combined suspending and operating arms broken away.

' Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the connection between the ribs and the outerends of the suspending arms.

Figure 7.

I Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view through the movable rib supporting arms;

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein: like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference-character 10 Figure 8 is a section on the line 88 of.

1929. Serial no. 376,347.

indicatesthe hull of a boat which may be of anysuitable type, as the invention is adaptable to boats of any typeincluding commercial vessels, yachts, houseboats, and other types ofcraft.

Broadly, the invention comprises a plu-. rality of wings W which are mounted upon oppositesides of the hull 10 and which may befolded against the hull when not in use and extended horizontally so as to provide abroad supporting surface which is adapted to rest upon the surface of the water for the purpose of supporting the boat in the event of an emergency. Normally, the wings are folded against the hull and are, disposed above the water-iline'so as-not to interfere with the speed-0r progress of the vessel.

Any number of wings may be employed, the drawings illustrating a pair of wings upon each side of the hull. Each of these wings is formed of a plurality of ribs 11 which are connected by a canvass or other flexible cover 12. The inner ends of the ribs are pivotally secured as shown at 13 to inner and outer rib supporting arms which are" indicated at 14 and 15 respectively. These arms 14 and 15 are provided with vertically spaced longitudinally disposed grooves and the ribs are mounted within these grooves so that they will fold inwardly one uponthe other in fan-like formatiom'or be extended laterally outward; i I e The arms 14 and 15 are pivotally connected as shown at 16 so as to be relatively movable, while the arm 14 is'attached to a substantially V-shaped bracket'17 whose inner end isslidingly and pivotally movable. in a bearing 18 attached to the hull. The arm 15 is likewise mounted upon a substantially V-shaped bracket 19 and the inner ofiset end 20 ofthis bracket is pivotally mounted in a bearingv 21 also attached to the. hull.

4 The arm 15 has attached theretoa spring. 22 which tends to pull the arm outward or forward and away from the hull, while a spring23 which is attached to the arm 14 acts to pull this arm rearward or inward toward the hull. These springs are arranged at opposite ends of each ofthe wings as clear- 1y shown in Figure2"ofthe1drawings and act to expand the wings by moving the arms 14 and 15 in opposite directions.

The ribs 11 carry eyes or like guiding elements 24 which extend from their top and bottom faces and secured to and threaded through these elements are cables 25. The cables 25 for the foremost ribs extend through guides 26 at the stern of the hull and are wound upon a windlass 27, the lat ter being held against retrograde rotation by means of a spring influenced dog 28 and a ratchet wheel 29. A crank arm is provided for winding the cables upon the wind- ]ass. The cables 25 of the rearmost wings are wound upon a Windlass 27 by means of a crankarm 30 and this Windlass is held against retrograde rotation by means of a spring influenced dog 28 and a ratchet wheel 29'.

By means of the crank arms 30 and 30 with the cable connections 25, the wings may be folded closely against the side of the hull as illustrated by the dotted lines in Figure 3 6f the drawings and held in folded position. In the event of an emergency, the cables are released by means of releasing cables 31 which are attached to the dogs 28 and 28 as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. Vhen the cables 01 are moved to the dotted line position shown in this figure, the dogs will be released so that the springs 22 and 23 may operate to move the arms 14: and 15 in opposite directions and partly extend the wings.

For the purpose of fully extending the wings and providing additional stability, the wings have secured thereto combined operating arms and braces 32. Any suitable number of these arms or braces may be employed and as shown in the drawings these arms or braces comprise a vertically disposed portion 33 which is mounted in a bearing block 34 attached to the side of the hull. The arms extend downwardly and outwardly and have their outer ends provided with heads 35 which are slidingly and pivotally movable in shoes 36 attached to the ribs 11. The vertically disposed portions of these arms 32 carry rollers 37 which bear against the side of the hull and facilitate pivotal movement of the arms. The arms extend inward into the hull through slots 38 and their inner extremities are provided with elongated slots 39 which are disposed in accordance with the position of the arms.

The inner or slotted ends 39 of the arms 32 are slidingly and pivotally connected to a carriage 40, there being one of these carriages for each of the wings. For this purpose, the carriage 40 is provided with spaced pins 41 which extend through the slots of the arms and the carriage is movable upon wheels 42 which travel in a guide rail 43. A

1 handle 44 extends upward from the carriage through a slot 45 provided in the deck of the vessel.

After the wings have been released in the manner previously described, the operating handles 44 of the carriages are moved longitudinally rearward in the slots 45 so that the ribs which are connected to the outer ends of the arms 32 will be moved to a fully extended position with the forward and rearward wings overlapped as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The hull may then be supported upon the surface of the water for an indefinite period.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. In a boat, a hull, horizontally disposed foldable wings at opposite sides of the hull, means to secure the inner ends of the win s to the hull whereby the wings may to d against or be extended laterally from the hull, means to fold said wings and hold the same in folded position, and means movable longitudinally of the hull and operatively connected with said wings to move the latter to extended position.

2. In a boat, a hull, horizontally disposed toldable wings at opposite sides of the hull, each of said wings comprising a plurality of ribs, flexible means connecting the ribs, means to pivotally secure the inner ends of the ribs to the hull whereby the wings may fold against or be extended laterally from the hull, means to hold said wings and hold the same in folded position, and means to extend the wings.

3. In a boat, a hull, horizontally disposed foldable wings at opposite sides of the hull, each of said wings comprising a plurality of ribs, flexible means connecting the ribs, means to pivotally secure the inner ends of the ribs to the hull whereby the wings may fold against or be extended laterally from the hull, means to fold the wings and hold the same in folded position, arms pivotally mounted upon the hull, means to movably secure the outer ends of the arms to the ribs, and means to simultaneously move said arms to operate the ribs and extend the Wings.

4. In a boat, a hull, horizontally disposed foldable wings at opposite sides of the hull, 13

each of said wings comprising a plurality of ribs, flexible means connecting the ribs, means to pivotally secure the inner ends of the ribs to the hull whereby the wings may fold against or be extended laterally from the hull, means to fold the wings and hold the same in folded position, arms pivotally mounted upon the hull, means to movably secure the outer ends of the arms to the ribs, movably mounted means connecting the inner ends of the arms, and means to operate the movably mounted means to operate the ribs and extend the wings. t i

5. In a boat, a hull, horizontally disposed foldable wings at opposite sides of the hull, each of said wings comprising a plurality of ribs, flexible means connecting the ribs, means to pivotally secure the inner ends'of the ribs to the hull whereby the wings may fold against or be extended laterally from the hull, means to fold the wings and hold the same in folded position, arms pivotally mounted upon the hull, means to movably secure the outer ends of the arms to the ribs, a carriage mounted for movement within the hull, means to move the carriage, and a sliding pivotal connection between the inner ends of the arms and the carriage whereby movement of the latter will operate the ribs and extend the wings.

6. In a boat, a hull, horizontally disposed foldable wings at opposite sides of the hull, 7

means to secure the inner ends of the wings to the hull whereby the wings may fold or be extended laterally from the hull, flexible elements having their outer ends secured to the wings, means carried by the hull and connected with the inner ends of the flexible elements to fold the Wings and hold the same in folded position, and means to extend the wings.

7 In a boat, a hull, horizontally disposed foldable wings at opposite sides of the hull,

each of said wings comprising a plurality of ribs and flexible means connecting the ribs, a pair of pivotally connected arms, means to pivotally support the arms upon the hull, means pivotally connecting the inner ends of the ribs with the arms to permit of rela tive movement of the arms and ribs, means connected with the ribs to fold the wings and arms inwardly and hold the same in folded position, and means to move the ribs pivotally to extend the wings when the holding means are released.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN GHISON. 

